Understanding our parts

Accessing Your Inner Wisdom- Using Parts Work to understand your responses from a compassionate lens

In clinical psychology, the path to healing is not always about “fixing” something that’s broken. Often, it’s about understanding the internal parts of ourselves that protect, guide, and sometimes hinder us. One powerful method to access this deeper understanding is through parts work, a therapeutic approach influenced by Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy and Ego State Therapy (Schema Therapy also refers to different ‘modes’ or parts within us). These approaches offer a lens through which we can explore the multiplicity of our inner worlds and begin to shift from being led by protective parts to being guided by our inner wisdom.

What is Parts Work?

Parts work is based on the idea that within each of us exists a collection of different “parts” or “aspects” of our personality. These parts can represent a range of roles we take on in response to life’s challenges, past experiences, and learned survival mechanisms. According to IFS and Ego State Therapy, these parts are not inherently negative or destructive. Rather, each part plays a role in protecting us, often borne out of past traumas or unmet needs.

For example, there may be a self-critical part that is harsh and judgmental, an overworking part that tries to avoid emotional pain, or a reactive part that takes over when feeling threatened. At the heart of all of these parts is their intention to protect us, even if their methods are outdated or harmful.

The Challenge: Protective Parts clouding our Inner Wisdom

While protective parts emerge from a place of survival and care, they often dominate our decision-making, limiting our ability to tap into our deeper, more balanced wisdom. When these parts are in charge, they might push us to avoid pain, avoid vulnerability, or engage in self-sabotage. They protect us, but they also prevent us from being in touch with the true essence of who we are.

In IFS, this is where the “Self” comes in—our true, authentic core that is never corrupted. The self is inherently wise, compassionate, and capable of leading us through life. This Self can become clouded or hidden by the intensity of our protective parts. In IFS, these parts are often divided into three categories: Managers, Exiles, and Firefighters. Managers help to control and organise (e.g., overworking or perfectionism), Exiles carry emotional burdens from our past (e.g., memories from childhood trauma) and Firefighters react when feelings are overwhelming (e.g., drinking, drugs, binge eating etc).

In Ego State Therapy, we work with the different “ego states,” or parts, helping clients recognise when they’re being led by emotional parts: younger, wounded parts (like a child state) or overbearing protective parts (like an inner critic), rather than their authentic, present-orientated, grounded adult parts. When we start to explore these parts, we often find that our emotional parts hold earlier emotional wounds or pain. We work to understand the history behind these emotional parts and help soothe and care for their needs when activated in the moment. Importantly, Ego State Therapy recognises that there are times in the day when we can access our more grounded, present-orientated adult parts of ourselves. These are the parts that handle daily life- whether performing competently at work, caring for our children or pets, or offering support or guidance to a friend. Ego-state therapy helps us access these adult, competent, grounded parts of us to soothe our wounded, younger parts when they feel activated.

Ultimately, this style of therapy hopes to integrate our different parts so that we are conscious when our parts are activated and can meet their needs in the moment. When all parts are seen, heard, and valued, they can work in harmony. This integration leads to greater emotional resilience and the ability to respond to challenges from a place of wisdom and strength, rather than fear or reactivity. Our inner wisdom becomes the central guiding force, allowing us to make decisions that are aligned with our core values and desires, rather than being driven by past wounds or external demands.

If you are interested in learning more about your parts and how to access your inner wisdom, please reach out for therapy